Having a website is great, but if no one can find it, it’s not doing much for your business. That’s where SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) comes in. A well-optimised website using SEO Basics, helps you show up in Google search results when potential customers are looking for businesses like yours. Here’s what small business owners need to know about SEO – and how you can start improving your rankings today.

1. SEO Basics: Understanding How Google Works

Google’s job is to show users the most relevant and high-quality results for their searches. It does this by scanning (or ‘crawling’) websites and ranking them based on factors like keywords, site speed, mobile-friendliness, and backlinks. The better optimised your site is, the higher it will appear in search results.

2. Keywords: What Your Customers Are Searching For

Keywords are the words and phrases people type into Google when looking for your products or services. To improve your rankings, you need to use the right keywords on your website. For example, if you’re a plumber in Market Harborough, you’ll want to include phrases like “reliable plumber in Market Harborough” or “emergency plumbing services near Market Harborough” in your content.

💡 Tip: Use Google’s free Keyword Planner to find popular search terms in your industry.

3. Content: Keep It Relevant & Helpful

Google prioritises websites with useful, high-quality content. This means your site should have informative pages, blog posts, and FAQs that answer common customer questions. Regularly updating your website with fresh content helps improve your rankings.

💡 Tip: A blog can help boost your SEO by targeting specific keywords and keeping your site active.

4. SEO Basics: Website Speed & Mobile Friendliness

If your website takes too long to load, visitors (and Google) will lose interest. Google also ranks mobile-friendly websites higher, as more than half of all web traffic comes from mobile devices.

💡 Tip: Test your site speed with Google PageSpeed Insights and make sure your site is responsive on all devices.

5. Local SEO: Be Found in Your Area

If you run a local business, Local SEO is essential. This means optimising your website for local searches so nearby customers can find you easily.

Key steps for Local SEO: ✔️ Set up and optimise your Google Business Profile ✔️ Use location-based keywords (e.g., “best bakery in Burton Latimer”) ✔️ Get listed in local directories like Yelp and Yell ✔️ Collect and display customer reviews

6. Backlinks: Get Other Sites to Link to You

When reputable websites link to yours, it signals to Google that your site is trustworthy and valuable. This helps improve your rankings. Good ways to get backlinks include guest blogging, partnerships, and getting featured in local news or industry blogs.

7. The Easy Way to Improve SEO

SEO can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. At Mindful Marketing & Design, we include SEO-friendly website design in our monthly packages, so you can get found online without the hassle.

Need help with SEO? Get in touch today, and let’s make your website work harder for your business!